Iowa Western Community College to receive EPA workforce development funds

Iowa Western Community College is one of only 15 workforce development organizations in the nation to receive job training funds from the EPA. The college will receive the $200,000 grant on September 30th. The funds will be used to train unemployed and underemployed residents of Omaha and Council Bluffs on how to clean up contaminated sites.

Ina Square is a Job Training Coordinator for the EPA. She says once they have the grant, Iowa Western will recruit students, set up a curriculum, and hire instructors. The core training program includes 152 hours of instruction.

"So they will go to the Omaha site and do hands-on training for Haz Whopper. They will learn lead and asbestos abatement. They will learn how to clean that up. They will also learn construction debris recycling and of course, environmental health and safety.”

Square says the training will give the students nine certifications that will allow them to work at contaminated sites. She says Iowa Western plans to train 100 student and place 80 graduates in jobs.